Chicago (CNN) - To these young men, President Barack Obama is a model of what they could become - if they can avoid violence, unemployment and other pitfalls that have derailed some residents in their communities.

Student Vontate Stewart said Obama described his own struggles of the past and how he overcame them.

"He told us how he grew up and the situations he had been in and how he handled them," Stewart told CNN after their meeting. "And he just gave us ideas how to handle situations and let us learn from the situations he had been in. "

Their conversation "was helpful and very motivating," Stewart said.

His peer, Ronald McCormick, joined this program after a conversation with a teacher when he landed in detention. He was not a chronic troublemaker, but has seen his grades improve and said the conversation with Obama resonated with him.

"I got good advice about how he talked about how he dealt with his anger issues, his problems. So we had a good experience with him today," McCormick said.

That teacher, Marshaun Bacon, said Obama gave the young men in his program an "example of the power of hard work, self-determination."

"So now I'm going to challenge the group to say, now that the president has spoken to you, now that you have seen the best in what you can do, how are you actually going to go out and do those things?" Bacon said. "Each man will have that challenge and will work at it individually, but also as a group. 'What is our next move?' 'How do we continue to exemplify the best of what we can do?'"

Obama was born in Hawaii but raised his own two daughters within a mile of the Hyde Park Career Academy where he spoke.

"That's really what I've come here to talk about today - raising our kids," Obama said. "I'm here to make sure that we talk about and then work towards giving every child every chance in life; building stronger communities and new ladders of opportunity that they can climb into the middle class and beyond; and, most importantly, keeping them safe from harm."

The president spoke about the "hole in that child's heart" that comes from gun violence. In neighborhoods across the country, "it can feel like for a lot of young people the future only extends to the next street corner or the outskirts of town - that no matter how much you work or how hard you try, your destiny was determined the moment you were born."

Chicago saw more than 400 gun deaths last year and just last month, 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton was gunned down near her school a week after she participated in the festivities around Obama's inauguration. His wife, first lady Michelle Obama, attended the teen's funeral and two men have been charged with her murder.

Obama introduced the "Becoming a Man" program students in his speech and called them "exceptional young men" - especially so, he said, because of their own struggles.

"What I explained to them was I had issues, too, when I was their age. I just had an environment that was a little more forgiving," he said. "So when I screwed up, the consequences weren't as high as when kids on the South Side screw up.

"But these guys are no different than me and we had that conversation about what does it take to change," Obama continued, later adding that "for a lot of young boys and young men, in particular, they don't see an example of fathers or grandfathers, uncles, who are in a position to support families and be held up and respected."

"I had lost a couple friends due to gun violence and you know to the streets, or whatever, so I really think it's time for a change - not just me but with a lot of people … in Chicago," he told CNN. "It really ain't safe out here right now."

Bacon, the teacher, said he hoped the students who met with Obama would carry the conversation with them.

"He talked about the fact that he had to make a commitment to stay the path that he was on. He talked about times where he was discouraged and he thought about giving up but it stuck to it, and he's done pretty well for himself," Bacon said. "So I'm hoping our guys can emulate that same example, and who knows what is in store for them.

soundoff(31 Responses)

Rick McDaniel

Chicago has been a crime ridden city, for as long as we can remember.........which is many decades. History shows us, it has gone on for decades before my own lifetime. It has been called the crime capital of America, and when someone says they LOVE Chicago..........you have to question, who they are associating with........really.

February 16, 2013 10:15 am at 10:15 am |

jpmichigan

More wishful thinking on the Presidents part. All words with little/no action to support what is needed. He want families to take ownership,, but yet as President he has failed to do so with what is happening on the Hill.

February 16, 2013 10:21 am at 10:21 am |

American Thinker

This is so sad that the African American community has to look to the government to teach its male youth how to "become a man". The violence among African American communities has nothing to do in with poverty. As a matter of fact there is no poverty in America. India has Poverty. China has poverty. Ethiopia has Poverty. This is a cultural thing. A culture where education is shunned. A poverty where going to prison/jail makes you look good. A culture where your own women are nothing but "hoes". Why are there so many unmarried black women? Why are there so many black men that father children yet dont want to take responsibility in raising that child? – Yes, I understand and believe there is racism against blacks. But so what?! There is racism against Asians, Muslims, Jews, Hispanics as well yet we don't see the same proportion of violence and single mothers in those communities.

February 16, 2013 10:29 am at 10:29 am |

LIbertyGuy

"if they can avoid violence, unemployment and other pitfalls that have derailed some residents in their communities." I guess you mean the drug war, the war on education, the war on terror, joining the military like a fool, voting democrat or republican, taking government handouts untill you are dependent on them you know good stuff.

February 16, 2013 10:35 am at 10:35 am |

jack

Obama is the wrong model. I do not think 6that they want to become Dictators, liars and double talkers.Obama will be known as the person that managed to destroy this country by his unorthodox negotiating style. That is reminds me Of Hitler.

February 16, 2013 10:36 am at 10:36 am |

lottie

Obama is a wonderful roll model. Thank you Mr. President for speaking out to theses young people. He has had to deal with all the name calling and still remain dignified. Im sure it was not easy for him growing up because so many people yet today use racial slurs when speaking of him. It is good to have a president who takes the time to speak to the youth.